Improvement in the manufacture of peat-fuel



nlrvrn Atunes-or MONTREAL, CANADA Letters Patent No. 113,478, dated April 11, 1871.

IMPROVEMENT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FEAT-FUEL.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters -Patent-and making part of the same.

To all 'whom it may concer-1t: V

Beit known that I, DAVID Arxiu-ix, ofthe city of Montreal, in the district of Montreal, in the Province of Quebec, gentleman, have invented a new and useful Improvement on the Art, of Curing Peat-Pulp for Fuel and onthe apparatus used therefor; 4and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, .and exact description oi' the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing, whcre- Iiigure'I represents a plan of the vessel for holding y the peat-pulp. Y Y

Figure II represents` an elevation ot' the vessel for holding the peat-pulp. Y

Figure IIl'repx-esents .a plan vshowing general arrangement of vessels for holding the peat-pulp, and trestles for further drying-the peat, as situated on the bog.

Figure IV represents an elevation of Fig. III.

This invention has reference to improvements on the art of curing peat-pulp for mamiiacturing it' into fuel, andfon the apparatus used therefor, for performingthe same in a quicker and more economical mauner than by the arts and apparatus at presentiu use.

It may be here Well to describe the modus operandi at present known or used, pointing outthe differences claim'cd by my invention, as follows:

In all cases the peat-pulp is out from the bog by a suitably-formed excavator working in au approximate t0 a straight or curved line.

The excavators used are usually supplied with a discharging-spout arranged to deliver the peat-pulp at. a greater or lesser or at a variety of distances on one side of the cut or canal made by the excavator.

The surface of the earth or bog on which this peatpulp is distributed, in some cases, is prepared as a bed,` with drains formed for the water in the peat-pulp to escape or be separated from it. Although the peat- 1 pulp so arranged maybe separated from a large amount oi" water in a short time, yet to bring the peat-pulp to a suiiioiently solidforni 'for further treatment requires considerable time. l 'This is causedchietlyby the naturally damp character of the bed by its situation on the surface of the bog or adjacent ground.

In another instance this is endeavored to be overcome by, forming curing-vessels at the edge of the bog, and by, cutting a canal in front of them. bl ow, as this canal is extended in Width the excavator becomes removed at such a distancetbat a vessel has to beeinployed to receive the peat-pulp from the excavator and convey it'to the curing-vessels, into which the vessels contents are discharged in anysuitable manner.

New, although the separation of the water by the curing-vessels in this case may be very quickly performed, yet it is quite evidentthataverv large amount of labor will be involved in the operatiomand a muchA larger amount of apparatus required. 4

By my invention I provideta curing-vessel .so constructed that'the peat-pulp discharged by the spout ot the' excavator shall'at all times bc received within it direct. I also provide a further means of drying the peat'after'it is removed from the curing-vesseh In lthe drawing hereunto annexed similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

Letter t is the curing-vessel, formed by constructing a suitable number oi' cells b, each cell, being a counterpart of 'the next, and equal in size and form, is rendered interchangeable with everyl other one.

The cells may be made singly or`with two or more cells formed in one of the interchanging parts. In Figs. I and II the cells are shown as having a double form in each part, these are of any suitable dimensions, hutnot larger than that the parts Vso formed maybe lifted, when empty, with ease and carried by two lne/n. The cells may be constructed in any suitable n1anner iu rectangular forms, similar to boxes of required size, only that the box is minus the top orlid and one side, the back side ot' the one forming the front sideof the other.

The bottom of the cells thus formed is made of rails c laid openly, upon which is supported the-inclined inner bottom d; this consists of a groovedboard.

rlhe side e may either be formed of rails with grooved boards attached on each side, or by a board with grooves on each side.

The ends f are also formed of boards with grooves on theirinner surfaces, the center one f"being grooved on both sides.

The grooves of the sides and ends are vertical and of any required size, while those on the bottom are longitudinally Withit.

lt will be seen that each of the interchaugiug parts is made up ot 4one side e, two ends f, one central division f', two inner bottoms d, and one outer' bottom c, or correspondingly ifmade single or otherwise.

Having constructed a suitable number of the cells b I place them together,'as shown in Fig. III, and secure them by any suitable clasps, y, arranged to hold them firmly together'.

The number of the cells l) in a line. transverse to thecut of the excavator, forming the canal h, will be regulated by the quantity required for holding the amount of matrial excavated, while the number placed longitudinally will be such that the iirst ones filled will be sufficiently drained of their water before the last ones are filled.

In placing thepcells on the bog I elevate them on stringers h of timber, in short pieces, laid in lines under them.

the spade of Ythe operator and placed, for the''porposeY of vcompletely drying, upon trestles t t' and scantlings k, as shown in Figs. III and IV. l

These trestles are vprovided with sharpened ends driven into the bog, and are .set up at any suitable distance from each other, loose scantlings k being laid rst onthe bottom cross-piece, which prevents the trestles from sinking too far into the bog, so as to form ashelf for the reception of the half-dried peat.

When the peat arranged upon these scantlings comes up to the Vlevel of the next cross-piece of the trestles fresh scantlings are laid from trestle totrestle, on which, in its turn, is piled the peat-pulp, and so on, till the rst row .of trestles is full. As soonv as any cell b is emptied of the 4peat-pulp which it contained it is removed to theother end of the curing-vessel and refastened, by the clasps g, to the cell which may form the end of the curing-Vessel, in the direction in which the sccw or vessel containing the machinery for excavating the peat-pulp moves,

.thus providing continuously fresh cells to receive the l peat-,pulp'as it issues from the excavator.

- As-'ast asA the cells are emptied of their contents carried forward in their turn to support the cells as they are removed. l

In like manner, so soon as one row of trestles is completely occupied by the half-dried peat. removed from the cells b as they are carried forward, another row is placed in front of it, thusconstantly following up the curing-vessela in4 its onward progress.

l The peat placed 0n the racks i will remain there until cured ready for market, when it is removed and otherwise stored; the racks are then removed and follow up the curing-vessel in a similar manner to that in which the eurerI advances alongside of the cut of' the excavator.

It will be seen by the foregoing description that by my process the peat-pulp is prepared in the most economical manner, and with the least delay possible.

Having thus fully described my invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patentfis.

1. The cells b, being counterparts, one of the other, and being.,r interchanging the one with the other, form'- ing an advancing and movable curing-vessel, a, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described.

2. The cells b, having grooved sides and bottoms, and otherwise constructed, substantially in the manner and for the-purpose described.

Montreal, 21st day of November, A. D. 1870.

DAVID AIKMAN. Witnesses: l

GHARLES LEGGE, CHARLES G. (l. SIMrsoN. 

